Many households rely on standby generators to prevent food spoilage and power medical equipment during extended power outages. While incredibly useful, whole-home generators are potentially dangerous. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 100 Americans die every year due to generator-related hazards. Let’s explore the top tips from experts to avoid these accidents and keep your family and home safe.
Schedule Regular Generator Maintenance
Standby generators require professional maintenance at least once a year. However, your system may need multiple service appointments during periods of high usage. Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation based on generator cycles.
During generator maintenance, electricians will perform a multipoint inspection and comprehensive cleaning. They’ll correct normal wear and tear, including performing oil changes, lubricating moving parts, and tightening electrical and mechanical connections. An electrician can also recommend proactive repairs as needed, such as ball bearing replacements.
Take Care With Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the number one reason standby generators result in injuries and deaths. Many modern generators have integrated CO detectors. You should also have adequate CO detector coverage throughout your home. Regularly change batteries and devices, and never ignore activations, as there could be serious health risks present.
Keep Your Outdoor Unit Locked
The outdoor unit should have a lock, as many jurisdictions require it by law. Even if it’s not the law in your area, it’s a good idea. It keeps children and pets from inadvertently getting hurt. Locking your generator may provide insurance benefits, and it helps safeguard against theft.
Don’t Ignore Error Codes
Many modern generators display error codes via their LCDs and can even send alerts to your phone. Your owner’s manual should have a lookup table of all error codes. In many cases, it will be something simple, such as a filter needing cleaning or replacement. That said, error codes can indicate serious problems like oil leaks and incorrect fuel-air mixtures.
Use Safe Electrical Panel Practices
Standby generators should have an outdoor disconnect switch, and you should use it in case of an emergency to disable your system. Regularly check your automatic transfer switch (ATS) and surge protection device indicator lights for potential problems. Schedule an electrical inspection if you experience a surge protector activation. You can reset isolated tripped circuit breakers, but don’t repeatedly reset them. Frequent trips can indicate serious potential electrical hazards, such as overloaded circuits.
Maintain a Safe Perimeter Around Your Generator
Your generator should be at least 5 feet from your home, particularly from any windows or intakes, and many jurisdictions require even more clearance. Avoid any clutter near your generator, which could be a fire hazard or interfere with ventilation.
Whenever in doubt, disable your generator and wait for an electrician to arrive. Be mindful that refrigerated food can last four or more hours without power, and frozen food 24 hours or more. If you live in Rochester, NY or a surrounding area and need generator services, make your first call to Nichols Electric and Plumbing.
